Spellbound
Subtitle: the surprising origins and astonishing secrets of English spelling
By: James Essinger
Edition: Delta trade pbk. ed
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Published: 2007
Place of publication: New York, N.Y
Language: eng
Number of pages: 305
ISBN-13: 9780385340847
Subjects: English language -- Orthography and spelling -- History; English language -- Etymology; Spelling reform
Description: "From the sophisticated writing systems of the ancient Sumerians through the tongue twisters of Middle English, the popular National Spelling Bee, and the mobile phone text-messaging of today, Spellbound chronicles the fascinating history of English spelling, including insights about the vast number of words English has borrowed from other languages (“orange,” “vanilla,” and “ketchup,” to name a few), and how their meanings differ from country to country. Featuring a lively cast of characters ranging from the fictional to the historically noteworthy (Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Noah Webster, Shakespeare, Bill Gates), this affectionate tribute to English spelling shows why our whimsical, capricious common language continues to hold us spellbound" -- publisher website (April 2008).
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 295-299) and index